Re: Tuolumne wilderness permit system

I've seen a few posts on the board talk about the makeshift system in place for getting wilderness permits in Tuolumne. I'm planning on showing up without a backcountry permit reservation next weekend looking for a first come first serve permit for that same day, with no real plan to speak of, other than preferring to start in Tuolumne.

If the phones are still out or intermittent then, how does the permit system work? Can they give out day-of first come first serve permits for other areas of the park besides Tuolumne without access to their quota info? Are the quotas still in place and enforced without knowing if rangers in the Valley are giving out permits for Tuolumne and vice versa?

Is this a crazy question? Maybe the solution is simple and I'm not thinking it through.

If you show up in Tuolumne office asking for permits out of other parts of the park, and the phones are still out, how COULD they help you? They couldn't - the other offices have priority in their regions of the park. Tuolumne office would have to call the office of priority - no call, no permit. TM/Tioga Road trailheads, no problem, they'll issue those without delay.

Well they could have a couple permits on reserve from other parts of the park. But if turning someone away is what they actually do, that answers my question.

The phone system is up. We got Murphy Creek from Big Oak Flat last weekend.
Ranger called Tuolumne to get them. So you should be fine.

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When I was there at the beginning of July. At that time the phones were out and here is how they did it. And if the phones are still out, probably how it is still working.

To avoid confusion and double booking only Tuolomne permit station gave out first-come permits for Tuolomne trail-heads.
Permits were written by hand.
Quotas very much still in place (and surprisingly many trail heads filled up their quota even though there was still a lot of snow on most trails).
You could buy maps with cash and rent a bear canister with a credit card (although I think they just wrote down the numbers as they couldn't swipe electronically.)

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KatyAnderson
When I was there at the beginning of July. At that time the phones were out and here is how they did it. And if the phones are still out, probably how it is still working.

To avoid confusion and double booking only Tuolomne permit station gave out first-come permits for Tuolomne trail-heads.
Permits were written by hand.
Quotas very much still in place (and surprisingly many trail heads filled up their quota even though there was still a lot of snow on most trails).
You could buy maps with cash and rent a bear canister with a credit card (although I think they just wrote down the numbers as they couldn't swipe electronically.)

Phones are not out in TM, they were repaired last week.

Do you guys read what I write?

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chick-on
Do you guys read what I write?

We do... even though Goatie's English is infinitely superior.
(Appreciatively Yours)
The Marmots

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chick-on

Do you guys read what I write?

Unfortunately, some people have trouble deciphering chicken scratch.

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chick-on
Do you guys read what I write?

Katy never saw your post because she was typing while you were posting. Her post was one minute after yours.

That comment wasn't directed at Katy.

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chick-on
That comment wasn't directed at Katy.

O.K., I take it back.

Great info, thanks.